Katarzyna Chodkiewicz

What people wore

Popularity of slitted clothing

Slitting sleeves and clothes to reveal contrasting linings or shirts underneath became a very popular trend in the early 16th century. This style was adopted by various social classes as a touch of flirtation and intimacy.

Daily life

Modest wooden homes with open fires

Peasant families lived in modest wooden houses that usually consisted of a single room containing a stove for heating and cooking. Some households in Samogitia used a traditional 'numas' structure, which featured an open fireplace instead of a stove.

Work

Common Jobs and Labour Obligations

Peasant families frequently worked as farmers, cultivating rye, barley, and oats while raising livestock like pigs and cows. Many were required to provide compulsory labour, known as pańszczyzna, on the lord's estate for at least one to two days each week.

Music

Common musical instruments

Bagpipes, flutes, and fiddles were popular instruments, with bagpipers commonly providing music for weddings and parties at both city and country inns.

At the table

Daily meat consumption

An average laborer on a Polish manor consumed approximately 300g of fatty meat every day.

Getting around

Difficult conditions for travelers and inns

Roads were often in poor condition, and finding suitable overnight shelter was difficult, with some inns described as being little better than a cattle-shed.

What it cost

Purchasing power of weekly wages

For one week's wages, a laborer could purchase approximately 100 liters of beer or a pair of shoes, which cost 7 to 8 grossi.